Quick Answer

Guess who mailed their Blueprint Retreat registration today. 

Not sure what I mean?

Read the previous post.

Thankful to have been GIFTED the amount I need to go by a real gem of a lady we know and love. I'm sure I'll have a dance party at some point but I'm still a little shocked/thrilled/overwhelmed.
Somebody praise Him. 

What's In Your Circle?

By: Elena

Earth's crammed with heaven,
And every common bush afire with God,
But only he who sees takes off his shoes,
The rest sit round and pluck blackberries

-Elizabeth Barrett Browning
 

I'll be honest. I'm dating the guy that I hope will be my fiancé someday. It takes a lot for me to say that because I don't like PDA. Zach, if you're reading this, I MAY OR MAY NOT SAY YES SO YOU STILL HAVE TO ASK don't go getting all certain or anything.

I've been wondering if Zach might be toting around a certain piece of jewelry for about a year now. But last night, I realized that no, in fact, he's not. You see, Zach is in grad school. Having been in school all his life, he's never had a job with the opportunity to develop any savings.

Boy, oh boy. This is a lot of vulnerability.

Be right back.

I'm back. Had to give myself a mirror pep-talk.

Anyway, Zach -without fail- saves me the last bite of anything he eats. Last night I was eating the end of his caramel brownie, and he casually mentions:

"You know I've been praying for a specific amount of money for a while. Well, I got a call today. The women's bible study at Tate's church has raised $200 for me....you know...."

I was in tears pretty much instantly. 
Suddenly I understand.
This is going to be a provision from God, that only He could bring about. It has to be. 

Of course, I'd like to fly under the radar where social media is concerned with my relationship. But if I invite you into the real story, you will see God's provision too. And I wouldn't want it any other way.

Now at this point, you're probably all.....

"This is a business blog, why all the sap? Save it for your Xanga."

Well, I have been holding out on ya. I like for my business to look like a nice neat package of wonderfulness where the internet is concerned. But I'm letting you in on the guts of the business: the next step I need to take is not yet possible. 

You see, there's a retreat that I am really hoping to attend. It's in January. I'm about 99% convinced that it will fill in all the missing pieces I need to solidify this business and the financial and branding plans.  It's called Blueprint. I can't explain it as well as the creators of it, so let me show you.

Creating an annual plan is more than writing down goals. It is about digging deep into your heart's desire, reviewing historic data to learn and grow, and setting trackable + achievable goals in order to truly measure progress along the way. Annual planning is about aligning your vision with your actions and bringing about LIFE CHANGE! 

Blueprint Retreat is designed to be a place where thoughtfulness, planning and intentionality meet; Created to get you OUT of your business in order to work ON your business. A place for creative businesswomen to come, relax, reflect, renew, learn and PLAN! 

I saw the first information about it on Instagram.
I shut the app and jammed my phone into my tote and went back to writing emails. $2,000 would drain my baby business account. I can't do that. *But I need to go. I need that information. I need to learn about planning financially how to file taxes. I NEED the encouragement of other creative businesswomen*

So, I'm drawing a prayer circle. If Zach can pray and wait for the next step he needs to take, then I can follow his example and pray and wait for something that I want and might even need.  How quickly I forget that I have asked for and received so many things. Personal and precious things.

• I asked God for a conch shell on a shell-less beach: this beauty washes up next to my feet.

• I asked God for a pair of tennis shoes: A year later, a stranger gives me a pair of new Sauconys that are exactly my size.
• I asked God for a car for my car-less friends: 2 months later, I get a phone call saying "God told me to give you a car."

And so the list goes. There's nothing special about my asking. But there is something special about the Fathers heart. When his kids ask earnestly, He just LOVES to give us good gifts when it fits in his plan.

Because every common bush is afire with God, I will ask boldly because he who started the work is faithful. I will take off my shoes and sit still and wait for him.

I wanted to tell you all this so that when God is faithful, we can look back on this post and say

"See there!"

OR if God has better plans for me than what I'm even asking for then we can say

"Even better!"

Either way, I want you to be in on it with me. Here's to drawing a circle around things hoped for. Besides. God is a loving Father.

Here I am asking for gifts when He's already got good things under the tree for me.

And besides, Earth's crammed with heaven.

Southern Vintage + Surprise Party

By: Elena

 

My very dear friend Jenn Deese and I hatched an idea to throw a surprise party for Laurel Avenue's own: Johna Griswell. 

Holly & Bill over at Southern Vintage so graciously allowed us to choose + style + showcase a suite of their rentals!

Everything you see is rent-able from Southern Vintage!

 

Their showroom is right here in Middle Georgia. 

You could say this is an upgrade from the lawn chairs we would have been sitting on otherwise. 

I picked up a selection of berry and green florals from Davis Wholesale florist. 

Our hostess-with-the-mostess friend Lauren Matuszewski offered up their darling backyard for the evening. 

Cherie Bond from Waiting on Wildflowers did two perfect pieces of hand lettering for the party. The chalk board (above) and this precious sign.

Thankful for Southern Vintage & the handful of superheroes that made this surprise happen.

Jenn, who is the glue of any operation. Zach who would move entire countries worth of furniture for our Johna. Meaghan who drove across two states to supervise production. Lauren and the girls of 125 who let us invade their house for 3 days. Freddy who cleared his calendar for us. And every single wonderful attendee. You guys rock. 

That's a wrap.